Alternate powder fun loads

[bigbore5]

During the powder shortage I tried a few powders I wouldn't normally use. Turns out I found a really fun and accurate load for the 38sp.

Using 3.5gr of Hogdon International Clays under the RCBS 38-150kt bullet I got 835fps from the 4" Service Six and 1-3/4" at 25yds. It's probably my favorite can killer.

What alternate powder loads did anyone else find that was good?

[marlin35]

Since unique has been AWOL in my area I have used up two pounds of AA5. It has shown to be accurate despite being a little dirty.

[ridenshoot]

I found a bunch of Shooter's World Heavy Pistol at a reasonable price as a substitute for #9 and 2400.  I've been experimenting with 41 Mag and 357 Mag, it has worked pretty well, though I am still trying to develop loads with different bullets.  I found that 12 grains behind a 158 grain Lee bullet was giving me approximately 1180fps with an ES of 32 and a SD of 11 in my Smith 586 Classic (this is probably near top load for this gun).  Accuracy was good with this load in my 586, have yet to try it in any of my other 357s.

I've also been working up loads in my Smith Model 57 Mountain Gun with Heavy Pistol.  I have been working on  loads with some Sierra 170 gr JHCs, but as yet haven't found the combo that I like.  I have developed a fairly accurate load but the ES and SD are pretty high.  I have had more luck with a 215 grain LSWC load and have been slowly increasing the charge weight trying to find a good load.  Since Shooter's World doesn't list any loads for 41 Mag (that I have found) I have had to go kind of slow with these.  If anyone knows of some published loads or has developed some I would be happy to compare notes.  I am using a chrono to test my loads so I have some data.

During the drought I also bought a few pounds of Vectan Ba9 as a substitute for Unique.  It seems to work OK but haven't had enough time to work it out.  When I bought it the price was really good, though I haven't seen it much since.  I've used it for some 45 LC loads and light 44 Mag loads.  Need to do more work with both, but generally I think they will work out, the 44 Mag loadings particularly show promise, just need time to develop them.

[hunter01]

Jan 22, 2024 6:54:45 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

During the powder shortage I tried a few powders I wouldn't normally use. Turns out I found a really fun and accurate load for the 38sp.

Using 3.5gr of Hogdon International Clays under the RCBS 38-150kt bullet I got 835fps from the 4" Service Six and 1-3/4" at 25yds. It's probably my favorite can killer.

What alternate powder loads did anyone else find that was good?

I’ve used tiny charges of titewad in the 38spl with a 105gr bullet. Never ran them through the chrono but I was thinking 950fps or so. Shoots very clean and a # of powder is almost a lifetime supply. I think there is even factory produced load data out there now.
I’m a sucker for a bargain so I’ve bought tons of surplus powder over the years. My “universal” is actually csb-1 or the same powder labled etr7 by expansion industries. It’s been a great powder for mid range loads and hot 44spl. Wc820 or 297 are my H110 equivalents. Have lifetime supplies. With a little hunting there are still pull-down powders available out there for 50% of normal retail.

[bigbore5]

Jan 22, 2024 7:34:32 GMT -5 ridenshoot said:

I found a bunch of Shooter's World Heavy Pistol at a reasonable price as a substitute for #9 and 2400.  I've been experimenting with 41 Mag and 357 Mag, it has worked pretty well, though I am still trying to develop loads with different bullets.  I found that 12 grains behind a 158 grain Lee bullet was giving me approximately 1180fps with an ES of 32 and a SD of 11 in my Smith 586 Classic (this is probably near top load for this gun).  Accuracy was good with this load in my 586, have yet to try it in any of my other 357s.

I've also been working up loads in my Smith Model 57 Mountain Gun with Heavy Pistol.  I have been working on  loads with some Sierra 170 gr JHCs, but as yet haven't found the combo that I like.  I have developed a fairly accurate load but the ES and SD are pretty high.  I have had more luck with a 215 grain LSWC load and have been slowly increasing the charge weight trying to find a good load.  Since Shooter's World doesn't list any loads for 41 Mag (that I have found) I have had to go kind of slow with these.  If anyone knows of some published loads or has developed some I would be happy to compare notes.  I am using a chrono to test my loads so I have some data.

During the drought I also bought a few pounds of Vectan Ba9 as a substitute for Unique.  It seems to work OK but haven't had enough time to work it out.  When I bought it the price was really good, though I haven't seen it much since.  I've used it for some 45 LC loads and light 44 Mag loads.  Need to do more work with both, but generally I think they will work out, the 44 Mag loadings particularly show promise, just need time to develop them.

Shooters World Heavy Pistol is in fact the old #9 formula. I've used it since it came out in everything from the 32H&R to the 500 Linebaugh. Love the stuff. Current #9 load data is safe to use with it.

My favorite 357 mag load is the 358429 from MP crimped in the groove on 13.5gr Heavy Pistol, CCI 500, in Starline brass trimmed to 1.250" so it fits in my OM Blackhawk and Sixes with room to spare. 1375fps from the 6.5" and 2" at 50yds. My go to deer slayer.

I also like 9grs under an Arsenal 32-98 Keith in the 32H&R.

[hunter01]

Jan 22, 2024 7:46:47 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

Jan 22, 2024 7:34:32 GMT -5 ridenshoot said:

I found a bunch of Shooter's World Heavy Pistol at a reasonable price as a substitute for #9 and 2400.  I've been experimenting with 41 Mag and 357 Mag, it has worked pretty well, though I am still trying to develop loads with different bullets.  I found that 12 grains behind a 158 grain Lee bullet was giving me approximately 1180fps with an ES of 32 and a SD of 11 in my Smith 586 Classic (this is probably near top load for this gun).  Accuracy was good with this load in my 586, have yet to try it in any of my other 357s.

I've also been working up loads in my Smith Model 57 Mountain Gun with Heavy Pistol.  I have been working on  loads with some Sierra 170 gr JHCs, but as yet haven't found the combo that I like.  I have developed a fairly accurate load but the ES and SD are pretty high.  I have had more luck with a 215 grain LSWC load and have been slowly increasing the charge weight trying to find a good load.  Since Shooter's World doesn't list any loads for 41 Mag (that I have found) I have had to go kind of slow with these.  If anyone knows of some published loads or has developed some I would be happy to compare notes.  I am using a chrono to test my loads so I have some data.

During the drought I also bought a few pounds of Vectan Ba9 as a substitute for Unique.  It seems to work OK but haven't had enough time to work it out.  When I bought it the price was really good, though I haven't seen it much since.  I've used it for some 45 LC loads and light 44 Mag loads.  Need to do more work with both, but generally I think they will work out, the 44 Mag loadings particularly show promise, just need time to develop them.

Shooters World Heavy Pistol is in fact the old #9 formula. I've used it since it came out in everything from the 32H&R to the 500 Linebaugh. Love the stuff. Current #9 load data is safe to use with it.

My favorite 357 mag load is the 358429 from MP crimped in the groove on 13.5gr Heavy Pistol, CCI 500, in Starline brass trimmed to 1.250" so it fits in my OM Blackhawk and Sixes with room to spare. 1375fps from the 6.5" and 2" at 50yds. My go to deer slayer.

I also like 9grs under an Arsenal 32-98 Keith in the 32H&R.

I picked up 4 jugs of this one time when grafs or wideners was trying to “give” it away. Have yet to open one. Yes, I’m a hoarder and single handedly caused this component shortage.

[gnappi]

I scored a BIG keg of Red Dot at a gunshow for a few bucks a pound and discovered lots of old data for it.

It's pretty clean and goes boom, I was happy to get it.

[lar4570]

I went looking for 2400, but all they had was 410. I thought that I'd read somewhere that the burn rates were close, so I bought 2#.
Now I see that they say to not load it in Metallic cartridges...
Guess I'll have to get a 410 reloading press so I can use up the powder

[hunter01]

Jan 22, 2024 13:24:27 GMT -5 lar4570 said:

I went looking for 2400, but all they had was 410. I thought that I'd read somewhere that the burn rates were close, so I bought 2#.
Now I see that they say to not load it in Metallic cartridges...
Guess I'll have to get a 410 reloading press so I can use up the powder

What was their reasoning? They said the same thing about titewad for a long time.

[lar4570]

I don't know the reasoning behind it.
I've heard of several guys using 410 for cast bullet loads without any problems.
I have tried it in some 45 Colt shot loads with good success.

[hunter01]

Jan 22, 2024 14:59:26 GMT -5 lar4570 said:

I don't know the reasoning behind it.
I've heard of several guys using 410 for cast bullet loads without any problems.
I have tried it in some 45 Colt shot loads with good success.

That’s all you need to know right there.

[ideal]

If you ever get in a bind for Unique, you can often find Herco on the shelf with the shotgun powders and there's plenty of data for it with most handgun calibers. It's a bit slower than Unique, and a a bit faster than Blue Dot. It's also a velocity champ in some 9mm loads.

[bigbore5]

My go to has long been Universal, but it's simply unobtainable right now. I've tried the Power Pistol, Titegroup, Red Dot,etc. as subs, but none are a match for it. Maybe I should pick up some Longshot to try.

[blackmamba]

I've done a lot of searching through load data and also first hand experience, and I've found N330 to be a very near equal to Universal and Unique. It burns clean, fills the cases nicely and with other brands going up in price the Vihtavuori powders are no longer prohibitively expensive.

[hunter01]

Jan 23, 2024 4:55:14 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

My go to has long been Universal, but it's simply unobtainable right now. I've tried the Power Pistol, Titegroup, Red Dot,etc. as subs, but none are a match for it. Maybe I should pick up some Longshot to try.

Wish you were closer. I have plenty of a good universal equivalent to share. If you search csb-1 you may find some still out there available. It’s doing 1100fps with a 250 in the 44spl. Good stuff.